Abbey Lincoln - Strong Man

Abbey Lincoln was 27 when she recorded Strong Man, the first track of a very fine record she made in the mid 50's with Sonny Rollins, Kenny Dorham, Wynton Kelly and Max Roach. What a band for a "supper club singer" as Allmusic.com described her earlier career. I always liked those early recordings much more than her protest era or her later recordings with her old, broken voice.

Grover Washington Jr. and Bill Withers - Just the two of us

"Just the two of us" was on the radio yesterday.

In 1980 we listened to that, taped from a dutch radio station with too many people crammed into a little Volkswagen and a keg of beer to have an improvised party  in the flat of one of the guys. It became a habit, every week for some months. Always that tape with the dutch DJ and then party.

Sam Brown - Stop

A great song from the 80's, probably the only one remembered by a bigger audience. Sam Brown had deserved better. Check out her appearance in the concert for George Harrison with a very energetic "Horse to the water".

Father and daughter Johnson

Syleena Johnson is the daughter of underrated soul singer Syl Johnson. In 2005 she issued her CD Chapter 3 with the appropriately titled "Slowly". The album cover says it all.






Compare with Syl Johnson's "Is it because I'm black". The track is an all-time favourite, but the cover is definitely not as attractive.

Adrian Younge - Turn down the Sound

I had difficulties finding an appropriate label for this mix of sounds. Is it Sergio Leonish or Tarantino-Soul? It is probably just very good pop music.

Diana Ross - Reach out and Touch

One of the great hymns, on her first solo album. The cover is quite a contrast to the diva-role she assumed pretty soon later. A boyish child looking up for what the future may bring.